Nea Fane – Un Biet Român Pripășit în America / A Hapless Romanian Stuck in The US

This is an apology post. Well, not quite.

I spent two years writing this book/magazine. When I finally declared it finished, I sent it by email to some of you. And then, being a product of the Facebook generation, I waited for feedback. And waited. And waited… impatiently.

One reply came quickly, tearful and kind. Then silence.

I grew restless and started nudging people. Despite promising I wouldn’t print it, I did. Just four copies.

Last night, I gave one to my lady to look over. Because she loves me, she took it. Thirty seconds later, she came back into my office, shaking, crying.
“How could you write something like this?!?”

And only then it hit me.
I had two years to write it. Two years to cry, to laugh, to process.

It was unfair, cruel even, to expect my friends to dive into it cold and finish it in one afternoon.

So, for that, I owe you an apology.

If you still want to read it, I’ll leave the link here. Take your time.

Or don’t read it at all.

I understand.

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The Lady from Montreal sent me an email, in Romanian. I will post it here (with her permission), mostly for me, so I will not lose it. It’s so beautiful, any translation it will not do it justice:

“Am terminat. Imi sterg lacrimile si iti scriu cateva cuvinte , what first comes to mind …Singurele  motive pentru care  orice suferinta ar trebui  ascunsa e ca sa nu fie fortata in tipare , consolata cu formule conventionale sau chiar pangarita. Avem drepturi depline asupra suferintei noastre mai ales si pentru ca e o ofranda adusa celor dragi.

 Ceea ce ii leaga pe oamenii care sufera la pierderea unei persoane dragi este cred eu nu atat felul pierderii cat  similaritatea inefabilei calitati spirituale pe care se grefeaza  durerea si care ridica monumente in sufletele  lor ( ale noastre) in amintirea celor disparuti  si le consacra o alta viata in memorie. Cauzele  suferintelor cred  eu sunt mai putin numeroase decat variantele infinite ale acestei spiritualitati. “